Here is a picture of me in Cornwallis (boot camp). I went through in the last part of 1980. We were 8 Platoon or the Crazy 8's, and Course 8048. We only had three weeks in and we were sent home for Christmas. Nothing like showing your hometown your new "haircut", right off the bat. After boot camp it was off to Borden Ont. for Trade Qualification. I went in as an MSE OP and I am proud to say that was my only trade in my sixteen years. Just before completion of my MSE OP Course we were trucked down to Toronto, to Canada's Wonderland. I thought to myself that this is some nice of the Forces to give us a day off and relax. Then I found out we were there to test the rides before it was open to the public. We were there to make sure the rides were safe!
After Borden it was off to my first posting, Gagetown N.B. I didn’t really know what to expect being as green as I was (no pun intended). I was relieved to find a great bunch of guys and gals. They were earger to help and put your mind to ease. After doing my time on base taxie, base mail, CE transport, and other general purpose vechiles, I got my chance to operate the gradall and other pieces of heavy equipment and I was hooked for life. Gagetown is the home of 2RCR and again a great bunch of guys. Here they are doing a sunset ceremony just out side the base. I can say I tipped a few with the RCR's and just about every other trade on the base. Here is our shop down in K-8 starting to move out for snow clearing.
From there I was posted to Lahr, West Germany. In 86 seven of us got posted to overseas most to 4SVC BN. This is Des at a party at my house. He was always one to pick you up when you were feeling down, I wish someone would have been there for him. I will miss him dearly. I was posted to Charlie platoon in the Battalion and had a great time. Here is the crew and the trucks we drove over there are in the background. If you see your face in here drop me a line.
The first two years I was in Germany I curled in a lot of bonspiels and traveled to a few neighbor countries. Then Al and Daphne introduced me to skiing,thanks guys for showing me the sport. My sister Trish and her Husband Gerry came over to sample the beer. Here they are in Frankfurt enjoying the great German beer. Notice the phone and the number behind them? That is in case you see someone that you like, just call up the table number and start chatting. We also took in Paris while we were there. In the picture are Gerry Barb Leanne Diane Trish Sylvia and myself. This is the Seine River looking down from the Eiffel Tower. During our bus tour we also made new friends. Angeline and Ginger are from the U.S. and the guy in the middle was our tour guide Stephan. If ever get him for a guide you will have one of the best.
In 1991 I was posted back to Canada to a place called Chilliwack BC. Very early into my posting I was introduced to Jeff Oickle. It was nice to have someone who was in the pay department to look after me. I really hate hearing "sorry" right around payday. He too was a skier and fun to be around. We had a guy named Brian Fayle come to us from Pettawa and I think it was Petawa's loss and our gain. I was the dispatcher, Brian was IC and Terry did all the tractor-trailer for the camp. We were the support for the Engineer Officers course every summer in Chilcotin that was a treat and a half!!!!! One summer we put up the Newfie flag and were promptly told to lower it because it was higher than the Engineer's flag (hahahahaha yah right). We just laughed and light a bonfire instead.
In 1993 I was selected to join 1SVC BN(or waaaaa SCV BN) for a UN tour to Bosnia. This would have to be one of the highlights of my career. Now it was time to see if any of this training can be put to use. On my third convoy up to Visoko someone must of thought that my sunvisor on my truck was a little too big so they shot a piece out for me. It would be nice to point the finger at someone, but the first three months you are still trying to figure out who is who. Jim had a bad day and was lucky to come out with just a broken arm. It was about two weeks later I heard some "Military Expert" from UBC saying that only the best equipment follows the the UN tours. Good thing that I wasn't close to a phone to call the radio station. James Hentges had a bullet go through his windshield and tumble flat out the back window . We were going through a small town and the shot came from a bus stop. We also had a couple of sailors with us , Jim and Mike ( aka pig and yo pig). If I had bosses like these guys I would still be in today, they were great to say the least. I was the convoy commander for the tractor trailer unit in Duravar that moved the PPCLI down south. This is what they had written on the wall of one of the buildings.
Yes the commercial is right to an extent, there is no life like it. The friends you meet are incredible. The experince cound not be matched by any civilian company. I could go from coast to coast now and know someone. It is too bad that the pay is really bad and the promotions are not there. If it were such the case you would have a lot of people that are still in. Nowadays people are just waiting for the next buyout package to get away from it all. Good luck to all that are still in. Maybe I will see you at a logspiel sometime.
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